Props are not essential to a great photo of your baby, but they can add humor, put your tiny one’s size in perspective, or add a little nostalgia to the photo (for example, having your baby pose with your childhood teddy bear!) Here are a few guidelines for using props in your baby’s portrait. If you’ve just “dropped in,” check out the first two installments of this series: Timing and Lighting.
Keep it Simple
If you’re going to use a prop, such as a toy, limit it to one, possibly two objects. You don’t want to crowd the photo with so many things that you create a distraction and bring the focus away from your baby.
Think Outside the Box
Stuffed animals and toys are classics, but sometimes you can create a hilarious photo just by handing your baby something they wouldn’t normally hold, like a phone or a wooden spoon (especially if the baby is sitting in a mixing bowl).
Think About Color
Something with really bright color can really pop in a photo and make it look great. In one of my favorite photos of my son, he is sitting in a very bright green box and I think it just makes the picture! Give your baby girl a bright pink silk Gerbera Daisy or your little guy a bright red fire truck. If you do use a brightly colored prop, go easy on the outfit so they don’t clash. Better yet, leave your baby in a diaper and show off those chubby thighs!
Not Too Distracting
Props are fun, but if they keep your baby from looking at the camera, you will not capture that adorable smile! One way to avoid this is to let your baby play with the item for a while before the photo shoot so they get used to it. On the other hand, candid shots of your baby doing what she does best (exploring) might be exactly what you want.
Speaking of distraction, my next segment on DIY baby portraits will be on the art of distraction, also known as, “baby, look at mommy! Look at the camera!”
